hopkins



(.No Model.)

, J. M. HOPKINS.

CORN SILKING MACHINE.

No. 254,134. Patented Feb. 28.1882.

INVENTOR WITNESSE S.

AT TURKEY.

N. PETERS. Pnoxomho m hnr. washin wn. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN M. HOPKINS, OF EDGEWOOD, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO RACHEL L. HOPKINS, OF SAME PLACE.

CORN-SILKING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 254,134, dated February 28, 1882.

Application filed Septemberfi, 1881. (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that. I, JOHN M. HOPKINS, of Ed gewood, Elarford county, State of Maryland, haveinvented certaiunew and useful Improvemerits in Gorn-Silking Machines; and I hereby declare the same to be fully, clearly, and exactly described as follows, reference being had tothe accompanyingdrawings,in which Figure 1 is aperspective view, and Fig. 2 a [0 central vertical sectional view, of the device.

My invention has for its object to provide a machine adapted to effect the separation of the silk from the kernels of green corn after the same have been severed from the cob. Heretofore this end has been attained, in a measure, by passing the corn through coarse sieves; but the separation by this means falls far short of thedesired result, and a subsequent picking over by hand is always necessary. By means of the device about to be described I effect a complete separation of the silk from the corn. In the drawings, A is a casing suspended within a frame, 0, by rods d d at either side. At the top is a pair of sieves, B, and below them is a hopper or spout, a. On the inner sides of the casing are cleats 41, upon which is sustained a series of boards, b, in an inclined position, as shown. Pins 0 are secured on the faces of the boards and at right angles to them. 0 At the sides of the frame 0 are boxes 0, in which is journaled a shaft, D, having one or more arms,f, and a crank, E.

In operation the green corn is husked and cut from the cob, as usual, the kernels being 5 thrown upon the sieve B. The crank E is turned, causing the arms f to strike the sides of the casing and impart to it a reciprocating or shaking motion. vThe corn falls through the sieves and hopper a upon the inclined boards 0 b, whence it is discharged into a suitable receptacle. Some portions of the silk are held by the sieves, but a large part falls through them and upon the boards b. Here the strands encounter the pins and are held,the corn falling freely between the pins. IVhen the silk 5 has accumulated somewhat upon the latter the boards are slid out from the cl ats through the opening at the rear of the machine; or, it the top cleats are dispensed with, the boards may be lifted out at the front of the machine. Then they are immersed, pins downward, in water, when the silk is immediately released, and the boards are lifted out and returned to the machine.

As heretofore stated, the separation of the silk from the corn .is complete, and the slow and tedionshand-picking which heretofore was necessitated is wholly obviated.

While the sieves are notan absolutely necessary part of the device, their use in connection with the inclined surface having pins or projections to catch the silk is to be preferred, as they separate a considerable portion of the silk and obviate the frequent removal of the boards, which without them would be necessary to clear the pins of the silk.

I do not limit myself to the precise form of device shown in the drawings,ast-he same may be modified in many ways without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What Iclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In combination with the casing, one or more removable inclined boards having pins projecting from the upper surface for retaining 7 5 the silk, the boards acting as a chute to deliver the corn into a suitable receptacle, as set forth.

2. In combination with the casing having inclined cleats i, the removable boards I), resting 8o thereon, and provided with pins 0, as set forth.

Witness my hand this 31st day of August, 1881.

JOHN M. HOPKINS.

Attes't:

It. D. WILLIAMs, J. S. HULL. 

